Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
Fully Accredited
Marywood University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSHE). / ADDRESS / 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104. | Phone: (267) 284-5000
The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Psychology (Clinical Services) is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). / For further information about the accreditation of this program, contact the APA office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, Phone: 202-336-5979.
The Psy.D. program at Marywood has been accreditated since 2006. It was re-accredited in 2009, 2014 and again in 2024. In 2004, the Psy.D. program was granted designation as a doctoral program in psychology by the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology, as it meets their 'Guidelines for Defining 'Doctoral Degree in Psychology.'' Therefore, graduates of this designated program who decide to apply for licensing as a psychologist typically will meet the educational requirements for licensing. However, in each jurisdiction there are additional requirements that must be satisfied. For exact information, please contact the state or provincial licensing board in the jurisdiction in which you plan to apply.
Once licensed, graduates are eligible to apply for credentialing as a Health Service Provider in Psychology. Graduation from a designated program ensures that the program you completed meets the educational requirements for credentialing by the National Register. However, there are additional requirements that must be satisfied prior to being credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. For further information, consult the National Register's website.
Doctor of Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
DEADLINE: December 15, 2024 for Fall 2025 cohort. The application for this cohort will open September 15, 2024. GRE tests are no longer required.
Marywood University's APA-accredited* Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) prepares students to provide evidence-based and culturally-sensitive clinical services to diverse populations. Students develop competencies in nine areas, including: research, ethical and legal standards, individual and cultural diversity, professional values and attitudes, communication and interpersonal skills, assessment, intervention, supervision, and consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills.
- Meet requirements for PA licensure
- State-of-the-art facilities
- Predoctoral internships in a variety of settings across the country. The majority of students obtain APA-accredited internships.
Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data
Program Aims
- To provide students with foundational knowledge of the field of psychology in general and clinical psychology in particular.
- To help students advance from novice to the early stages of competent clinician status in: research; ethics; individual and cultural diversity; professional values, attitudes, and behaviors; communication and interpersonal skills; assessment; intervention; supervision; and, consultation and interprofessional/interpersonal skills.
- To teach students to view themselves as being life-long learners while also giving them the skills necessary to be critical and sophisticated consumers of research so that they may be able to independently and effectively apply future developments in the field to clinical practice.
The Psy.D. program provided a strong foundation for me in developing my clinical skills that would apply in any number of work settings. I was able to form close working relationships with several faculty members who genuinely cared about me. In fact, there were times I felt treated more like a colleague than a student, particularly once I started teaching alongside them as an adjunct faculty member for undergraduate courses.
One of my favorite memories was playing alongside the faculty in the annual faculty/graduate students versus undergraduate students softball game. Having earned my Psy.D. has allowed me to pursue a career in which I've gained additional experience and expertise in areas such as forensic assessments, sex offender treatment, and drug abuse treatment.
Matthew Eisenhard '13 Read All Testimonials
Program Graduates
Graduates of Marywood's Psy.D. program are employed across a wide variety of settings. The majority of our students have their own independent practice or are employed in medical centers, typically within the VA system, university counseling centers, or community mental health centers. Other settings include correctional facilities/forensics, psychiatric facilities, military, and academia. The clinical psychology doctoral program at Marywood endeavors to train high quality students to provide state-of-the-art, ethical, humane and culturally sensitive clinical services to diverse populations in contemporary society. On the way to earning a Psy.D. in clinical psychology, the program model teaches students to be research-informed practitioners with general skills who pursue development in specific areas through the selection of electives, practicum sites, research topics, internships and post-doctoral training.
Outcomes & Opportunities
Top Employers
- Medical Centers
- University Counseling Centers
- Correctional Facilities
- Independent Practice
Top Career Paths
- Staff Psychologist
- Private Practitioner
- Professor
- Counseling Center Director
Dig Deeper Into the Program Details
If you have any questions about this program, we're here to help.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- “B” average during undergraduate study or demonstrated potential for graduate work
- Completed application
- Essay
- Official, sealed transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
Psy.D. Requirements
Prerequisites
Admission to the Psy.D. program requires at least 18 credits of Psychology coursework at the undergraduate level, including: statistics, experimental methods/research design, and abnormal/ psychopathology. A major in Psychology is preferred. A minimum overall GPA of 3.48 on a 4.0 scale is expected, for both general curriculum and psychology courses.
Transfer Credits
Up to 15 transfer credits in graduate Psychology coursework will be accepted. All credits transferred must reflect at least a 'B' grade, be from a regionally accredited institution, be similar in content and demand of equivalent Marywood courses, and have been earned within the preceding 5 years. The Director of Clinical Training must approve all transfer credits.
Admission Post-Master's
For a post-master's application to be considered, all of the following courses (or their equivalent) must have been completed at the master's level, with a grade of B or better.
- Psy 503 Research and Statistics I
- Psy 504 Research and Statistics II
- Psy 508 Biological Bases of Behavior
- Psy 514 Human Development
- Psy 517 Personality Theories
- Psy 521 Social Psychology
- Psy 522 Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior
- Psy 531 Psychopathology
- Psy 532 Child Psychopathology
- Psy 580 Assessment of Adult Personality and Psychopathology
- Psy 555 Professional Contribution or Psy 556 Master's Thesis
- Psy 561 Introduction to Psychological Testing
- Psy 571 Introduction to Individual Psychotherapy
- Psy 574 Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Psy 577 Practicum I
- Psy 587 Practicum II Or Psy 578 Internship
All students accepted post-Master’s must pass the Master’s Comprehensive Exam. The exam is offered in the Fall semester, and consists of seven sections (Research Methods I, Research Methods II, Personality, Developmental, Social, Biological Bases of Behavior, and Cognitive/Affective Bases of Behavior). The exam is a multiple choice format.
Up to two students will be accepted annually post-Master's degree in psychology, to join the third year doctoral students. Students must have completed their degree no more than five years prior to application. Demonstrated excellence in academics and clinical work is expected. Applicants also must have completed an empirical Master's thesis or Professional Contribution. Two of the applicant's letters of recommendation must be from full-time graduate Psychology faculty at the institution where the Master's degree was completed. All other application procedures are the same as for the post-bachelor's admissions.
All applicants must provide the completed application form, official undergraduate/graduate transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation (with at least two being from psychologists), and a current curriculum vitae. (GRE tests are no longer required). In addition, applicants must submit a personal essay:
Please describe why you want to pursue doctoral training in clinical psychology, including mention of relevant lived experiences, interests, and professional goals. What makes Marywood University’s Psy.D. program a particularly good fit for you? If possible, identify two Marywood University psychology faculty members whose research interests appeal to you and state why.
Applicants selected for interviews will be notified in late January/early February for virtual group interviews no later than February 28.
The Psychology Department is located in the McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies.
McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies
1201 University AvenueMap & Directions
The McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, located on the corner of University and North Washington Avenues, contains classrooms and related clinical/professional space for Communication Sciences and Disorders, Psychology and Counseling, Education, and Business students. Market Marywood is also located here.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
Psychological Services Center
Map & Directions
The Psychological Services Center (PSC), located in Room 1009 in the McGowan Center for Graduate and Professional Studies, is a clinic and training facility. It serves the community as an outpatient mental health clinic that provides services to individuals across the life spectrum from young children to older adults. The entry of the PSC is privately located on the north side of the McGowan Center on Marywood's campus. The PSC is composed of several individual, couple, family, and group therapy rooms, as well as a reception area and waiting room.
Learn More
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's scholarship programs are designed to encourage and support outstanding students who work hard, demonstrate a strong will to succeed, and have financial need. Our scholarships provide financial assistance and academic support to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.
View Tuition RatesBadner, Dr. Stuart B
- Department Chair
- Associate Professor of Practice
- sbadner@marywood.edu
- x2250
Popple, Leah M
- Assistant Director of Clinical Training (Psy.D.)
- Assistant Professor of Practice
- lmpopple@marywood.edu
Morton, Dr. Lindsay C
- Undergraduate Psychology Program Coordinator
- Associate Professor
- lcmorton@marywood.edu
- x2248
Muse-Burke, Dr. Janet L
- Counseling Program Fieldwork Coordinator
- Professor
- jlmuse-burke@marywood.edu
- x2367
From #DayOne, Marywood is here for you each step of the way.
Request Information
Latest Program News & Events
Graduate Student Events
Fully Accredited
Marywood University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSHE). / ADDRESS / 3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA 19104. | Phone: (267) 284-5000
The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Psychology (Clinical Services) is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). / For further information about the accreditation of this program, contact the APA office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, Phone: 202-336-5979.
The Psy.D. program at Marywood has been accreditated since 2006. It was re-accredited in 2009, 2014 and again in 2024. In 2004, the Psy.D. program was granted designation as a doctoral program in psychology by the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology, as it meets their 'Guidelines for Defining 'Doctoral Degree in Psychology.'' Therefore, graduates of this designated program who decide to apply for licensing as a psychologist typically will meet the educational requirements for licensing. However, in each jurisdiction there are additional requirements that must be satisfied. For exact information, please contact the state or provincial licensing board in the jurisdiction in which you plan to apply.
Once licensed, graduates are eligible to apply for credentialing as a Health Service Provider in Psychology. Graduation from a designated program ensures that the program you completed meets the educational requirements for credentialing by the National Register. However, there are additional requirements that must be satisfied prior to being credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. For further information, consult the National Register's website.
- Virtual Tour
- Plan A Visit
- Apply
- Request Info
- Make A Gift
- YouTube
- Snapchat
- TikTok